The Golden State Warriors introduced their lone selection of the 2018 NBA Draft — Jacob Evans.
The 21-year-old came off as a bright rookie who’s endured some obstacles outside of the basketball court.
The Baton Rouge native witnessed the 2016 Louisiana flooding first hand.
“A lot of my family and friends just lost everything,” Evans said. “I was actually at home around that time with one of my friends and happened to leave his house and walked through water for two miles. That kind of set it in. You can lose everything in a couple of minutes so just knowing that I don’t take this game for granted.”
However, long before that, Evans went through personal adversity.
He grew up in a household where his single mother, Theresa, would take care of him and his siblings.
“As a parent, I feel like I’m turning him over to a great city, a great organization who’s going to continue to have him grow on and off the court,” Theresa Evans said.” As a parent, you couldn’t ask for anything better. I’m glad I was there for the journey. A lot of parents aren’t fortunate enough to experience this. It makes everything that we went through, the sacrifices all worthwhile.”
There’s no question about it — Evans is ready to contribute for the Warriors.
Many coaches and analysts say he’s wise off the court and much of that has to do with him spending three years at Cincinnati where he lead the Bearcats in both points and assists this past season.
He has the skill to guard multiple positions and gives Golden State another reliable option to shoot the three-ball.
“Come in and work hard. That’s what I do. I work my butt off, work on my game every day and just try to develop as a player,” Evans said. “Knowing that other guys are going to challenge me is just going help me be a good player in the league.”
And don’t worry Golden State fans, those anti-Warriors tweets were all things of the past.
Evans has nothing but respect for what he says is “probably the greatest team of all time.”
“Well I never rooted against the Warriors,” Evans said. “I respect greatness but just seeing this organization, where they’ve come from the past couple of years, it’s amazing. The development, the growth. That’s something where how can you not want to be a part of?”
Evans was all smiles as he held up the Warriors home white jersey with the number 10 across the chest.
The jersey was last worn by Golden State all-star forward David Lee. And while we’re on the topic of all-star forwards, Draymond Green wasn’t the only Warrior to reach out to Evans on draft day.
“Kevin Durant. He just texted me and said congrats. Just seeing how good he is and how he’s ranked in the NBA, that he took the time out to text me congrats, that means a lot.”
This was the ideal pick for the Golden State Warriors.
General manager Bob Myers has full confidence in the rookie.
“Jacob, all you have to do is be yourself,” Myers said.